Weekly Maritime Crime and Piracy Update – Week of 12 May 2011

A chemical tanker was hijacked on 15 May at 0220 LT in the Cotonou anchorage at position 05:52.36N – 002:44.55E off Benin. Five to ten armed men boarded the vessel and hijacked it to an unknown location. Some injuries to the crew were reported. The armed robbers stole crew personal belongings, ship’s properties, and cargo. They left the vessel 16 May at 1255 LT. (IMB, Commercial Sources)

INDIAN OCEAN:

Cargo vessel (PUNCHDAN) was fired upon by two skiffs 17 May at 0556 UTC while underway in position 06:50N – 051:22E, approximately 122NM southeast of Garacad, Somalia. (UKMTO)

Fishing vessel (ALAKRANTXU) was fired upon by one skiff with five pirates onboard 17 May at 0715 UTC while underway in position 08:59S – 040:56E, approximately 158NM southeast of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The security team onboard exchanged fire with the pirates and the pirates aborted the attack. (IMB, Operators)

Cargo ship (FELICITY ACE) was fired upon by one skiff with four pirates onboard 17 May at 1156 UTC while underway in position 09:24S – 040:44E, approximately 175NM southeast of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Pirates fired an RPG at the vessel. Vessel conducted evasive maneuvers and the pirates aborted the attack. (UKMTO, Open Sources)

LPG tanker (MAERSK GLORY) was fired upon by one skiff with five pirates onboard 14 May at 0434 UTC while underway in position 08:32N – 067:53E, approximately 503NM southwest of Kochi, India. Pirates fired an RPG at the vessel but did not hit it. Vessel took evasive maneuvers and the pirates aborted the attack. (IMB, UKMTO)

GULF OF OMAN:

Tanker (ARTEMIS GLORY) was fired upon by one skiff with four pirates onboard 16 May at 1036 UTC while underway in position 24:11N – 061:11E, approximately 134NM northeast of Sur, Oman. The pirates attempted to board the tanker several times using grappling hooks. The vessel took evasive maneuvers and activated fire hoses. A naval helicopter came to assist. The pirates then aborted the attack. (IMB,UKMTO).

ARABIAN SEA:

Container ship (AYALA) was fired upon by one skiff 15 May at 1639 UTC while underway in position 14:09N – 055:25E, approximately 114NM northeast of Socotra, Yemen. Vessel engaged in evasive maneuvers and the pirates aborted the attack. (IMB, UKMTO)

INDONESIA:

A bulk carrier was robbed 15 May during the night while anchored in position 01:10S – 117:17E in the Samarinda anchorage, Indonesia. Robbers boarded the vessel via the hawse pipe, broke open the bosun store padlock, stole the ship’s stores, and escaped the vessel. (IMB)

A chemical tanker was boarded 15 May at 0240 LT while anchored in position 3:46.59N – 98:41.26E in Belewan, Indonesia. Two robbers boarded the vessel. The duty crew spotted them and informed the second officer, who then raised the alarm. The robbers had forced open the bosun store’s door, but they escaped the vessel in an unlit boat without taking anything. (IMB, Commercial Sources)

SOUTH CHINA SEA:

A barge was robbed 15 May at 0105 LT while underway in position 01:14.97N – 104:06.81E, approximately 16NM southeast of Singapore. Eight robbers in a sampan (small wooden boat) boarded the stern of the barge. The robbers stole ropes and broke into containers onboard the barge. (ReCAAP)

Indian Ocean Piracy Forecast for 19 – 21 MAY 2011

Currents off the Somalia coast are variable with speeds up to 1 knot from the Equator to 4N. Current speeds up to 4 knots may be seen along the coast between 5N and 10N. Gulf of Aden conditions remain conducive for piracy

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